Electrical illuminating and sounding toy



Nov. 2, 1965 H. K. PRICE 3,214,862

ELECTRICAL ILLUMINATING AND SOUNDING TOY Filed Jan. 25, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 2s 26 I8 T I5 l8 INVENTOR I III! l" HOLLAS K. PRIC E ATTORNEY Nov. 2, 1965 R CE 3,214,862

ELECTRICAL ILLUMINATING AND SOUNDING TOY Filed Jan. 25, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 2W iii INVENTOR HOLLAS K. PRICE ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,214,862 ELECTRICAL ILLUMINATING AND soUNnING TOY Hollas K. Price, P.0. Box 701, Oak mu, W. Va. Filed Jan. 25, 1965, Ser- No. 427,613 13 Claims. c1. 46-227) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 203,137, filed June 18, 1962.

As the invention in the aforesaid application, the present invention relates broadly to amusement devices or toys having a mechanical movement actuated by turning of a hand crank. More specifically, the device consists of a plate-like body formed with intersecting grooves which slidably receive reciprocable blocks, such blocks being operatively connected to a crank which, when turned, causes the blocks to slide past each other in the grooves. In the aforesaid application means are provided for producing a scraping or a rattling sound and for blowing a Whistle by the sliding movement of the blocks, and such scraping or rattling sound producing means may be also embodied in the present device.

However, the principal object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device or toy of the character above outlined which, in addition to its mechanical movement, also contains electrical equipment including switch means and a plurality of lamps which become successively energized when the blocks slide to the ends of the grooves, thus producing a novel and highly entertaining effect.

Moreover, another object of the present invention is to provide an amusement device or toy of this nature wherein the whistle sounding means are electrically operated, also in response to the sliding movement of the blocks.

With the foregoing more important objects and features in View and such other objects and features as may become apparent as this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters of reference are used to designate like Parts, and wherein;

' FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the amusement device of the present invention, the handle portion thereof being shown in section to reveal its contents;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 33 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 44 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional detail showing the lamp and contact means at one end of one of the blocks,

FIGURE 6 is a wiring diagram of the electrical components used in the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a view, similar to that in FIGURE 5, but showing a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view, similar to that in FIGURE 1, but showing another modified embodiment;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional detail, taken substantially in the plane of the line 9-9 in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 10-10 in FIGURE 9 and also showing a block in position in the groove;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken substantially in the plane of the line 1111 in FIGURE 8;

FIGURE 12 is a wiring diagram of the electrical components used in the embodiment of FIGURES 8-11;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional detail of another modified embodiment; and

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary wiring diagram pertain- 3,214,862 Patented Nov. 2, 1965 ing to the embodiment of FIGURE 13, the same corresponding to the lower right hand corner portion of the diagram of FIGURE 12.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularly to FIGS. 1-6 inclusive, the amusement device or toy is designated generally by the reference numeral 15 and embodies in its construction a plateshaped body 16 which may be conveniently molded from metal so that the body is hollow with an open bottom and includes a top wall 17 with a depending perimetric flange 18. While this construction is preferred for economy and lightness of weight, the body may also be formed as a solid plate, if so preferred. In any event, the body 16 is provided in the top thereof with a pair of grooves 19 which intersect each other at right angles at the center of the body, these grooves having dovetailed or undercut side walls 19', formed integrally with the top 17 of the body. The grooves 19 are open-ended, so that a pair of reciprocable blocks 20 may be slidably inserted into the grooves.

The blocks 20 are hollow and are formed from metal for electrical ground with the metallic body 16, although the top 20' of each block is preferably formed from transparent or translucent material such as plastic, or the like. In cross-section, the blocks conform to the dovetailed or undercut configuration of the grooves 19, whereby the blocks are prevented from moving upwardly out of the grooves. The tops 20' of the blocks are equipped with pivot pins 21 connected at longitudinally spaced points to a common hand crank 22, the latter being equipped with a finger piece 23 by which the crank may be turned to cause sliding of the two blocks past each other in the grooves, as will be readily understood.

As is best shown in FIG. 5, each end portion of each of the blocks 20 contains an electric lamp 24, the base of which is electrically grounded to the metallic block 20 and hence to the body 16. However, the base contact 25 of the bulb projects outwardly from the end of the block so as to engage a resilient contact element 26 provided at each end of each of the grooves 19. The several contact elements 26 are mounted in insulation 27 in the body 16 so that they are electrically isolated from the body. However, as each of the blocks 20 is slid toward either end of its groove, the contact 25 of one or the other of the lamps 24 comes into engagement with the adjacent of the contact elements 26, thus establishing an electrical connection or circuit to that particular lamp, as will be understood from the wiring diagram of FIG. 6 and also from FIG. 5.

A convenient handle 28, which may be formed from plastic, or the like, is suitably secured to one side of the body 16. The handle is hollow and accommodates, among other things, a cell or battery 29, accessible upon removal of an end cap 30 with which the handle is equipped. As shown in FIG. 6, one pole of this battery is grounded as at 31 to the metallic body 16 and hence to the slidable blocks 20, while the other pole of the battery is connected by suitable conductors 32 to the several contact elements 26. It will be apparent from the foregoing that when the handle or crank 22 is turned and the blocks 20 are caused to slide from one end of their respective grooves to the other, each time a block reaches an end of its groove, the electrical circuit will be completed by engagement of one of the contact elements 26 with the base contact 25 of one of the lamps 24, so that during the operation of the device the several lamps will be individually and successively lit, their light being visible through the transparent or translucent top 20' of the associated block 20.

Apart from the battery 29, the handle 28 also contains an electric motor 33 driving a blower 34, the blower having an air inlet 35 at one side of the handle 28 as shown in FIG. 2 and also having an air outlet 36 which discharges into a restricted throat 37 inside the handle and thence into a whistle chamber 38 having an outside whistle opening 39. Thus, when the motor 33 is energized, a whistling sound will be produced. One wire 44 of the motor 33 is connected to the side 32 of the battery 29, while the other wire 45 from the motor is connected to a contact element 46 which is disposed at one side of the contact element 26 at that end of the groove which is adjacent the handle 28, as shown in FIG. 1. When the block 20 in that groove reaches the handle, circuit is com pleted not only through the adjacent contact element 26 to the adjacent lamp 24, but also through the metal block and contact element '46 to the motor 33, so that the whistle -is sounded each time that particular block reaches the end of its travel at the handle 28.

The arrangement just described necessitates formation of the body 16 and blocks 20 from metallic material, in order that the required electrical ground may exist. However, it may be preferable to form the body and blocks from plastic material, as in the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 7. In such instance the electrical ground may be provided by mounting metallic sockets 37 for the lamps 24 in the plastic blocks 20" and providing such sockets with resilient brushes 48 which slide along metallic grounding strips 49 embedded in the plastic body 16", the ground side 31 of the battery being connected to the strips 49 as shown. To complete the circuit to the motor 33, the contact element 46 in such an arrangement comes into engagement with the metallic socket 47 in the adjacent end of the block, as will be apparent. When the plastic body 16" of FIG. 7 is used, the insulation 27 shown in FIG. need not, of course, be employed.

Referring now to the further modified embodiment of FIGS. 8-12, the same is substantially the same as the embodiment already described, except that the electric lamps are carried by the body 16" rather than by the sliding blocks 20". For all practical purposes, the body 16" and the blocks 20" may be formed of plastic material, since in this instance an electrical ground through the blocks and body is not required. The lamps 50 are mounted in metallic sockets 51 in the four corner portions of the body 16 as shown in FIG. 11 and one side of the socket of each lamp is connected as at 52 to one side of the battery 29, the connection being in parallel among the several lamps. The other side of each lamp is connected as at 53 to a contact 54 at one side of each adjacent end of the grooves 19, the relatively opposite side of the groove being provided with a similar contact 56. The several contacts 56 are connected in parallel as at 57 to the other side of the battery 29, as will be apparent from FIG. 12. The plastic blocks 20" may be hollow if desired, but since they do not contain the lamps, they maybe solid as shown in FIG. 10. Each end of the block, or each end wall of the block, as the case may be, has embedded therein a metal contact bar 58 which extends transversely so that when the block reaches the end of its groove, it establishes electrical contact between the opposed contacts 54, 55 and thus completes the circuit to one of the lamps 50. Here again, the several lamps 50 will become individually and successively energized as the respective blocks reach the respective ends of their travel in the respective grooves.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 8-12 the whistle actuating motor 33 is also provided, but the need of a separate switch contact such as the contact 46 is avoided. Rather, as will be apparent from FIG. 12, one side of the motor is connected as at 59 to one side of the battery 29, while the other side of the motor is connected as at 60 to one of the contacts 54, so that when the contact 54 is bridged to the contact 56 by the contact bar 58 of the block, the circuit is completed to the other side of the battery and the motor is energized.

FIGS. 1-3 and 14 show another modified embodiment which, in effect, combines the structure of FIG. 7 with 4 that of FIG. 8. In this modification the lamps 24 are provided in the sliding blocks and the lamps 50 are also provided on the body 16". However, the lamp socket 47' is grounded by the transverse contact bar 58 and when the block 20" reaches the end of the groove, the bar 58' not only completes the circuit for lighting the appropriate lamp 50 on the body 16", but it also completes the circuit through the contact element 26 to the lamp 24 inside the block, so that the lamp 24 is energized concurrently with the appropriate one of the lamps 50 on the body of the toy. As will be apparent from FIG. 14, the contact elements 26 in this instance are connected as at 32' to the same side 52 of the battery as the lamps 50.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications may become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates. Accordingly, it is not desired to limit the invention to this disclosure and various modifications may be resorted to, falling within the spirt and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In an amusement device, the combination of a body provided with intersecting grooves, slidable blocks reciprocable in the respective grooves past one another, a common crank operatively connected to said blocks for reciprocating the same when the crank is turned, a source of electric current, a plurality of lamps, and contact means provided in end portions of said grooves, said contact means being connected to said source of current and cooperating with said blocks to complete circuits to said lamps when the blocks reach the ends of their reciprocating travel in said grooves.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a whistle and an electric motor for actuating the same, said motor being in circuit with said source of current and being energizable when one of said blocks reaches one end of its reciprocating travel in its groove.

3. The device as defined in claim 2 together with a hollow handle provided on said body, said whistle including a blower driven by said motor, said blower and said motor contained in said hollow handle, said handle having an air inlet opening for said blower and a whistle chamber communciating with the air outlet of the blower.

4. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said lamps are carried by said blocks.

5. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said lamps are carried by said body.

6. The device as defined in claim 1 wherein said lamps are carried by said blocks and by said body.

7. The device as defined in claim 1 together with a hollow handle provided on said body, said source of current comprising a battery contained in said hollow handle.

8. In an amusement device, the combination of a body provided with intersecting grooves, slidable blocks reciprocable in said grooves past one another, a common crank operatively connected to said blocks for reciprocating the same when the crank is turned, a hollow handle connected to said body, an electric battery in said handle, a plurality of lamps carried by said blocks, and contact means provided in end portions of said grooves and connected to said battery, said contact means cooperating with said blocks to complete circuits to said lamps for individually and successively energizing the same when the respective blocks reach the ends of their grooves during their reciprocating movement.

9. The device as defined in claim 8 together with a whistle and all electric motor for actuating the same contained in said handle, and additional contact means provided at one end of one of said grooves in circuit with said motor and said battery, said additional contact means being electrically engageable by one of said blocks to complete the circuit to said motor at one end of the travel of said one of said blocks.

10. In an amusement device, the combination of a body provided with intersecting grooves, slidable blocks reciprocable in said grooves past one another, a common crank operatively connected to said blocks for reciprocating the same when the crank is turned, a hollow handle connected to said body, an electric battery in said handle, a plurality of lamps carried by said body, and contact means cooperating with said blocks to complete circuits to said lamps for individually and successively energizing the same when the respective blocks reach the ends of their grooves during their reciprocating movement, said contact means being disposed in end portions of said grooves and connected to said battery.

11. The device as defined in claim 10 together with a whistle and an electric motor for actuating the same contained in said handle, said motor being in circuit with said battery and with said contact means whereby the motor may be energized when one of said blocks reaches an end of its travel in one of said grooves.

12. In an amusement device, the combination of a body provided with intersecting grooves, slidable blocks reciprocable in said grooves past one another, a common crank operatively connected to said blocks for reciprocating the same when the crank is turned, a hollow handle connected to said body, an electric battery in said handle, a plurality of lamps carried by said blocks, a plurality of lamps carried by said body, and contact means provided in end portions of said grooves and connected to said battery, said contact means cooperating with said blocks to complete circuits to said lamps for energizing a lamp on said body and another lamp on a block when said block reaches an end of its reciprocating travel in its groove.

13. The device as defined in claim 12 together with a whistle and an electric motor for actuating the same provided in said handle, said motor being in circuit with said battery and with said contact means whereby the motor may be energized when one of said blocks reaches an end of its travel in one of said grooves References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,664,665 1/54 Rozenoif 46-227 2,797,922 7/57 Thompson et a1 4622S X 20 3,032,893 5/62 Debeh 33-31 X FOREIGN PATENTS 613,379 4/35 Germany.

25 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE, THE COMBINATION OF A BODY PROVIDED WITH INTERSECTING GROOVES, SLIDABLE BLOCKS RECIPROCABLE IN THE RESPECTIVE GROOVES PAST ONE ANOTHER, A COMMON CRANK OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID BLOCKS FOR RECIPROCATING THE SAME WHEN THE CRANK IS TURNED, A SOURCE OF ELECTRIC CURRENT, A PLURALITY OF LAMPS, AND CONTACT MEANS PROVIDED IN END PORTIONS OF SAID GROOVES, SAID CONTACT MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID SOURCE OF CURRENT AND COOPERATING WITH SAID BLOCKS TO COMPLETE CIRCUITS TO SAID LAMPS WHEN THE BLOCKS REACH THE ENDS OF THEIR RECIPROCATING TRAVEL IN SAID GROOVES. 